Monday, August 01, 2005

The Different Colors of Dissent

Originally posted on http://jedeva.multiply.com on July 6, 2005

The calls for GMA's resignation have grown louder over the past week. In the wake of these, three respected institutions-- The UP College of Law, De La Salle University, and Ateneo Law-- have released their own positions on the Gloriagate controversy


This morning, the cabinet's most respected members resigned-- just as the president asked last night. But before leaving, former secretaries Dinky Soliman (DSWD), Cesar Purisima (DTI), Willie Parayno (BIR), Emilia Boncodin (DBM), Florencio Abad (DepEd)-- and a few others-- called on the president to step down.

Maroon, green, and blue

After taking a vote, the Faculty of the UP College of Law came out with a statement that says that the president's "calls to Commissioner Garcillano implies more than a mere 'lapse of judgment' or simple impropriety. We believe that it constitutes an inexplicable and inexcusable failure to adhere to fundamental precepts of the Constitution."

Among the laws that the President swore to preserve, defend, and faithfully execute is Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution, which guarantees the independence of the COMELEC.

Thus, according to the faculty of UP Law, "President Arroyo has lost the capacity to serve the public trust with the utmost responsibility and integrity. She has become morally, and constitutionally, unfit to be President." Therefore, they call for GMA's resignation, "the best apology she can offer the Filipino people."

DLSU's statement, entitled "Restoring Faith in Democracy," says "We firmly believe that moral ascendancy is a critical ingredient in effective governance, and that even if GMA "stays in Office for the next five years, she will be unable to realistically command the respect of the nation."

The La Salle brothers make it clear, however, that they "reject all other extra-constitutional solutions to this present crisis." They want changes in leadership to remain within the framework of the constitution, meaning GMA has to be replaced by her Vice-President, Noli De Castro.

The Ateneo Law statement doesn't echo UP's and La Salle's call for GMA to resign. Instead, they ask her "as the duly proclaimed Chief Executive of our Republic, to determine what is best for the country, and that her decision be made with the best interest of the nation in mind."

As our President, we must rely on Mrs. Arroyo to make the proper decision, and once having made it, to then follow what would be in accordance with the terms provided for in our Constitution.
If the President would so decide in the best interest of the country to resign, then our people and our political leaders should rally behind the succession of our proclaimed Vice-President to the highest office of the land.

The three statements share one thing in common: all recognize the fact that the president faces a crisis, and all are in agreement that how she responds will determine the fate of our nation in the months, maybe years, to come.

All appeal to GMA to do what's in the country's best interests. UP Law and La Salle are unequivocal in what they think this is: she should step down. Ateneo Law, on the other hand, has chosen to trust the president's judgment in this matter.

All the president's men

The resignation of GMA's cabinet didn't come as a surprise. Last night, the president asked them to tender their courtesy resignations to " give the executive a free hand to reorganize itself." What did come as a surprise was their call for GMA to follow them as they proudly join the ranks of the unemployed.

Their parting words are a crushing blow to the president's efforts to salvage her presidency.

First, the country's most respected institutions tell her to step down. Next, the most respected members of her cabinet say the same thing. Her own people, for crying out loud.

Ano pa ang masasabi niya? (What else can she say?) More importantly, what more can she do?

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Chemistry & life sciences: the largest export sector in Belgium. Advantageous fertilizers prepared by methods contemplated and described herein combine a high concentration of a calcium complex with a humic material. An Outlet Valet such as the one made my Westinghouse plugs into a regular home outlet. Fish emulsion is an organic garden fertilizer that is made from whole fish or parts of fish. "We put liquid fertilizer tanks on the tractor for planting," he says.